Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A communication method, comprising: cycling operation of a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) between active periods and inactive periods of transmission, on a communication medium shared with a second RAT, in accordance with a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) communication pattern; setting one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern based on a frame structure associated with the first RAT, the setting comprising aligning one or more transition boundaries of the DTX communication pattern with one or more transition boundaries between frames of the frame structure; and transmitting over the communication medium in accordance with the first RAT and the one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern.
A communication method enables two different wireless technologies (RATs) to share the same communication channel. It works by making the first wireless technology alternate between active transmission periods and inactive periods according to a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) pattern. The timing of this DTX pattern (e.g., active and inactive durations) is determined by the frame structure used by the first wireless technology. Crucially, the start and end times of the active and inactive periods align with the start and end of frames in the first RAT's frame structure. The first RAT then transmits data using this DTX pattern.
2. The method of claim 1 , the frame structure corresponding to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) System Frame Number (SFN) numerology.
The communication method from the previous description uses Long Term Evolution (LTE) System Frame Number (SFN) timing as the basis for determining the frame structure of the first RAT. This means that the timing of the active and inactive periods in the DTX pattern are synchronized with the LTE SFN numerology.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: obtaining the frame structure via Network Listen (NL) scanning; and synchronizing one or more timing parameters for operation of the first RAT in accordance with the obtained frame structure.
The communication method from the first description includes obtaining the frame structure of the first RAT by listening to the network (Network Listen scanning). This allows the system to dynamically determine and synchronize to the first RAT's frame structure. Timing parameters for the first RAT's operation are then adjusted to match the obtained frame structure.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reserving a measurement period for access terminal scanning based on the frame structure, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination thereof.
The communication method from the first description reserves specific time periods for access terminals (devices) to perform scanning, based on the frame structure of the first RAT, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination of both. This reserved time is used by the device for measurements, such as signal strength.
5. The method of claim 4 , the reserved measurement period having a duration below a threshold and repeating once every system cycle defined by the frame structure.
In the communication method where a measurement period is reserved for scanning, this reserved period has a short duration (below a certain threshold). This short measurement period occurs repeatedly, once for every complete system cycle as defined by the frame structure of the first RAT.
6. The method of claim 4 , the reserved measurement period having a duration above a threshold and repeating once every two or more system cycles defined by the frame structure.
In the communication method where a measurement period is reserved for scanning, this reserved period has a long duration (above a certain threshold). This long measurement period occurs repeatedly, but less frequently, only once every two or more complete system cycles defined by the frame structure of the first RAT.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: obtaining a timing measurement via a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS); and synchronizing one or more timing parameters for operation of the first RAT in accordance with the obtained timing measurement.
The communication method from the previous description (long measurement period) includes obtaining precise timing information from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as GPS. This GNSS timing is then used to synchronize the timing parameters for the first RAT's operation.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reserving a measurement period for second RAT scanning based on the frame structure, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination thereof.
The communication method from the first description reserves specific time periods for scanning using the second wireless technology (RAT), based on the frame structure of the first RAT, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination of both.
9. The method of claim 8 , the reserved measurement period being at the end of a system cycle defined by the frame structure.
In the communication method where a measurement period is reserved for scanning the second wireless technology, this reserved period is placed at the very end of a system cycle, as defined by the frame structure of the first wireless technology.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reserving a measurement period for first RAT scanning based on the frame structure, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination thereof.
The communication method from the first description reserves specific time periods for scanning using the first wireless technology (RAT), based on the frame structure of the first RAT, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination of both.
11. The method of claim 10 , the reserved measurement period being at the beginning of a DTX cycle defined by the DTX communication pattern.
In the communication method where a measurement period is reserved for scanning the first wireless technology, this reserved period is placed at the very beginning of a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) cycle defined by the DTX communication pattern.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reserving a measurement period for medium utilization scanning based on the frame structure, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination thereof.
The communication method from the first description reserves specific time periods for scanning the usage of the communication channel itself (medium utilization scanning), based on the frame structure of the first RAT, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination of both.
13. The method of claim 12 , the reserved measurement period being at the end of a DTX cycle defined by the DTX communication pattern.
In the communication method where a measurement period is reserved for scanning the channel utilization, this reserved period is placed at the very end of a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) cycle defined by the DTX communication pattern.
14. The method of claim 1 : the medium comprising one or more time, frequency, or space resources on an unlicensed radio frequency band; the first RAT comprising Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology; and the second RAT comprising Wi-Fi technology.
In the communication method from the first description, the shared communication channel uses time, frequency, or space resources on an unlicensed radio frequency band. The first wireless technology is Long Term Evolution (LTE), and the second wireless technology is Wi-Fi.
15. A communication apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor and the at least one memory being configured to: cycle operation of a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) between active periods and inactive periods of transmission, on a communication medium shared with a second RAT, in accordance with a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) communication pattern, and set one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern based on a frame structure associated with the first RAT to align one or more transition boundaries of the DTX communication pattern with one or more transition boundaries between frames of the frame structure; and a transceiver configured to transmit over the communication medium in accordance with the first RAT and the one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern.
A communication device can have two different wireless technologies (RATs) to share the same communication channel. The device uses a processor and memory to control the communication. The processor and memory cycle the first wireless technology between active transmission and inactive periods, following a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) pattern. The processor sets the timing of the DTX pattern based on the frame structure of the first wireless technology, aligning the start and end times of active/inactive periods with the start and end times of frames. A transceiver transmits data according to the first RAT and the DTX pattern.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , the frame structure corresponding to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) System Frame Number (SFN) numerology.
The communication device from the previous description uses Long Term Evolution (LTE) System Frame Number (SFN) timing as the basis for determining the frame structure of the first RAT. This means that the timing of the active and inactive periods in the DTX pattern are synchronized with the LTE SFN numerology.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , the at least one processor and the at least one memory being further configured to: obtain the frame structure via Network Listen (NL) scanning; and synchronize one or more timing parameters for operation of the first RAT in accordance with the obtained frame structure.
The communication device from the fifteenth description includes obtaining the frame structure of the first RAT by listening to the network (Network Listen scanning). This allows the system to dynamically determine and synchronize to the first RAT's frame structure. Timing parameters for the first RAT's operation are then adjusted to match the obtained frame structure.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , the at least one processor and the at least one memory being further configured to reserve a measurement period for access terminal scanning based on the frame structure, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination thereof.
The communication device from the fifteenth description reserves specific time periods for access terminals (devices) to perform scanning, based on the frame structure of the first RAT, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination of both. This reserved time is used by the device for measurements, such as signal strength.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , the reserved measurement period (i) having a duration below a threshold and repeating once every system cycle defined by the frame structure or (ii) having a duration above a threshold and repeating once every two or more system cycles defined by the frame structure.
The communication device, which reserves a measurement period for scanning, provides two options: (i) The reserved period can have a short duration (below a threshold) and repeat frequently, once for every system cycle defined by the frame structure, or (ii) The reserved period can have a long duration (above a threshold) and repeat less frequently, once every two or more system cycles.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , the at least one processor and the at least one memory being further configured to: obtain a timing measurement via a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS); and synchronize one or more timing parameters for operation of the first RAT in accordance with the obtained timing measurement.
The communication device with long measurement periods and repeating after multiple system cycles, obtains precise timing information from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as GPS. This GNSS timing is then used to synchronize the timing parameters for the first RAT's operation.
21. The apparatus of claim 15 , the at least one processor and the at least one memory being further configured to reserve a measurement period for second RAT scanning based on the frame structure, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination thereof.
The communication device from the fifteenth description reserves specific time periods for scanning using the second wireless technology (RAT), based on the frame structure of the first RAT, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination of both.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , the reserved measurement period being at the end of a system cycle defined by the frame structure.
In the communication device, the measurement period reserved for scanning the second wireless technology is placed at the very end of a system cycle, as defined by the frame structure of the first wireless technology.
23. The apparatus of claim 15 , the at least one processor and the at least one memory being further configured to reserve a measurement period for first RAT scanning based on the frame structure, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination thereof.
The communication device from the fifteenth description reserves specific time periods for scanning using the first wireless technology (RAT), based on the frame structure of the first RAT, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination of both.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , the reserved measurement period being at the beginning of a DTX cycle defined by the DTX communication pattern.
In the communication device, the measurement period reserved for scanning the first wireless technology is placed at the very beginning of a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) cycle defined by the DTX communication pattern.
25. The apparatus of claim 15 , the at least one processor and the at least one memory being further configured to reserve a measurement period for medium utilization scanning based on the frame structure, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination thereof.
The communication device from the fifteenth description reserves specific time periods for scanning the usage of the communication channel itself (medium utilization scanning), based on the frame structure of the first RAT, the DTX communication pattern, or a combination of both.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , the reserved measurement period being at the end of a DTX cycle defined by the DTX communication pattern.
In the communication device, the measurement period reserved for scanning the channel utilization is placed at the very end of a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) cycle defined by the DTX communication pattern.
27. A communication apparatus, comprising: means for cycling operation of a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) between active periods and inactive periods of transmission, on a communication medium shared with a second RAT, in accordance with a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) communication pattern; means for setting one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern based on a frame structure associated with the first RAT, the means for setting comprising means for aligning one or more transition boundaries of the DTX communication pattern with one or more transition boundaries between frames of the frame structure; and means for transmitting over the communication medium in accordance with the first RAT and the one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern.
A communication apparatus that has means for cycling operation of a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) between active periods and inactive periods of transmission, on a communication medium shared with a second RAT, in accordance with a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) communication pattern; means for setting one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern based on a frame structure associated with the first RAT, the means for setting comprising means for aligning one or more transition boundaries of the DTX communication pattern with one or more transition boundaries between frames of the frame structure; and means for transmitting over the communication medium in accordance with the first RAT and the one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern.
28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising: code for cycling operation of a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) between active periods and inactive periods of transmission, on a communication medium shared with a second RAT, in accordance with a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) communication pattern; code for setting one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern based on a frame structure associated with the first RAT, the code for setting comprising code for aligning one or more transition boundaries of the DTX communication pattern with one or more transition boundaries between frames of the frame structure; and code for transmitting over the communication medium in accordance with the first RAT and the one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising: code for cycling operation of a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) between active periods and inactive periods of transmission, on a communication medium shared with a second RAT, in accordance with a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) communication pattern; code for setting one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern based on a frame structure associated with the first RAT, the code for setting comprising code for aligning one or more transition boundaries of the DTX communication pattern with one or more transition boundaries between frames of the frame structure; and code for transmitting over the communication medium in accordance with the first RAT and the one or more cycling parameters of the DTX communication pattern.
Unknown
November 7, 2017
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